Included in a list of over 500 words and new meanings just added to the Merriam Webster dictionary is a new definition for the word “they” — specifically, as a singular pronoun used by people whose gender is non-binary.
The expanded usage sits alongside embiggened definitions for “inclusive” and “colorism”, as well as new entries for pop culture phrases ranging from “dad joke” and “vacay” to “sesh”, “escape room”, and “coulrophobia”. (That’s the word for fear of clowns, which certainly has some increased relevance right now.)
“It’s an expansion of a use that is sometimes called the ‘singular they’ (and one that has a long history in English),” explains a post on the dictionary’s official site. “When a reflexive pronoun corresponding to singular use of they is needed, themself is seeing increasing use.” Read more…
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